If you were watching late-night TV back in 2011, specifically Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, you might remember a specific moment during a performance of Pink Floyd’s "Breathe." A brunette in a short skirt absolutely tore through a guitar solo, ad-libbing most of it on the spot.
That was Jessica Dobson.
For a lot of people, that was their introduction to the woman who would become a pillar of The Shins’ lineup during one of their most transformative eras. She wasn't just some touring fill-in. She was a "lady killer" on the fretboard, a term used by local Seattle press at the time to describe her ability to outplay almost anyone in the room.
The Port of Morrow Era
James Mercer has a reputation for being a bit of a perfectionist, and by the time 2011 rolled around, he had essentially cleaned house. The Shins were no longer the band that wrote "New Slang." They were becoming a vehicle for Mercer’s more polished, expansive ideas.
He needed a lead guitarist who could handle the precision of the new material while bringing some raw, indie-rock grit.
Jessica Dobson fit that bill perfectly.
She joined the band in August 2011 and quickly became an "official" member by early 2012. If you listen to the album Port of Morrow, you’re hearing her influence in the atmosphere. She wasn’t just there to play the notes; she was there to provide the texture.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle she ended up there at all. Before The Shins, she’d already done time as a "hired gun" for Beck, Spoon, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She was essentially the indie world’s most kept secret.
But with The Shins, things felt different. It was a 18-month whirlwind.
The Gear Behind the Sound
You can’t talk about Jessica Dobson in The Shins without talking about that Elvis Costello Signature Jazzmaster. It was her "third arm."
Most guitarists in big indie bands play it safe with their rigs. Not Dobson. She had this way of making her guitar sound like "strangled cats" one second and "glassy Johnny Greenwood" the next.
Her Go-To Setup During The Shins Years:
- The Main Squeeze: That brown 2010 Fender Elvis Costello Jazzmaster.
- The Vintage Vibe: A 1961 Silvertone Jupiter (you can see this in the "Simple Song" era live clips).
- The Secret Sauce: A heavy rotation of pedals including the Electro-Harmonix POG2 and the Deluxe Memory Man.
She once told Premier Guitar that she loved "sour notes." She liked the tension. That tension is exactly what made those Port of Morrow live shows so much more electric than the studio recordings.
Why She Walked Away
It’s the question every fan asks: Why leave a band at their peak?
By late 2013, Dobson was done.
The reality of being in a massive touring machine is that it eats your own creativity. While she was touring the world with Mercer, she was also trying to build her own band, Deep Sea Diver.
There was a specific moment in Louisville, Kentucky—at the Iroquois Amphitheater. Deep Sea Diver had opened for The Shins. Dobson played her set, got a standing ovation, and then had to immediately turn around and play lead guitar for the headliner.
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She realized she couldn't give both projects 100%.
She pulled James Mercer aside at the end of the tour. It wasn't some dramatic, bridge-burning blowout. She basically said, "Hey, I’ve got to go do this."
And she did.
Life After The Shins
Since leaving, Dobson hasn't looked back, and honestly, her trajectory proves she made the right call.
Deep Sea Diver has become a force of its own. They’ve released albums like Secrets (2016) and the critically acclaimed Impossible Weight (2020), which featured Sharon Van Etten. Just recently, in early 2025, they dropped Billboard Heart under the Sub Pop label—the very same label that launched The Shins.
Talk about coming full circle.
She’s even opened for Pearl Jam in massive arenas, a feat she credits to bassist Jeff Ament being a fan of her songwriting.
What You Should Do Next
If you only know Jessica Dobson as "the girl from The Shins," you're missing about 90% of the story.
Go listen to "Impossible Weight" or their 2025 track "Shovel." You'll hear the same fierce guitar playing that made Mercer hire her, but this time, it’s her own voice.
If you're a guitar player yourself, look into the Benson Deep Sea Diver pedal. It’s her signature stompbox, and it’s basically the sound of her entire career packed into a small metal box.
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Don't just stick to the hits. Dive into the solo work. It's where the real magic is.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking to capture that Dobson-esque guitar tone, start with an offset guitar (like a Jazzmaster) and a high-quality analog delay. Keep your solos slightly "sour" and unpredictable. Success in the indie world, as Dobson proved, isn't just about playing the right notes—it's about having the guts to leave a steady paycheck to find your own sound.
Check out Deep Sea Diver’s 2025 tour dates if you want to see one of the best living guitarists in a small club before she’s back in arenas.